Fluid-conditioning method and apparatus



Jan. 13, 1931. s. M. ANDERSON 1,

FLUID CONDITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HUMlD/F/ER AMPLIFIER HUMlDIF/ER IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 13, 1931. 5, ANDERSON 1,789,268

FLUID CONDITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1930 2 Sheets$heet 2 AMPLIFIER 9, I 9e HUM/D/l-IER a7 v JNVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Paamd Jan. 13,, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT cal-1C5 mm 1:. annnason, or snaaon, mssacnnsn'rrs, ASSIGNOB To B. r. swa'rnvm'r. comramr, or nos'ron, uassacnusnrrs, a column FIND-CONDITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS Application filed January as, me. Serial No. 424,102.

This invention relates to methodsand apparatus for controlling the vapor content of fluids and relates more particularly to methods and apparatus for controlling the rela- 5 tive humidity of the air within an enclosure.

It is becoming better and better known' that living conditions in heated rooms are greatly improved 'when the air within the rooms contains a substantial amount of mois- 19 ture or water vapor which tends to prevent the drying of the nasal and throat passages of the occupants. This moisture also tends to prevent the circulation of dust, which in itself 1s undesirable and may be injurious. Also,

in certain manufacturing processes, among which are the manufactureof paper and the.

manufacture of cloth, the presence of a certain amount of moisture is necessary in the air in which the processes are employed.

20 The heating systems generally employed for heating buildings efiectively reduce the relative amount of moisture in the air so that it has been found desirable to provide humidifying apparatus for introducing additional moisture to compensate for the loss of rela tive humidity through the heating process. A relative humidity of from fifty to fifty-five per cent is in manycases desirable, but in cold weather and especially so in extremely cold weather, such a hi 1'. Ge

gree of moisture in the air of a close room is attended by a serious disadvantage, in that a low outdoor temperature chills the window panes of the room, causing the moisture in the airof the room to condense thereon, and ifthis condensation is excessive, the

window pane becomes frosted or clouded and the viewQis obscured. In many cases it may be desirable that themoisture content of the air in a room be as high as possible without producing this condensation of the l moisture on the window surface, but due to.

' the wide range of outdoortemperatures during the winter months, and the resulting difair) in the room and the outside air, the rela tive amount of moisture which can be supplied to the room without causing condensaaction of the air within the room.

ference in temperature between the heated An object of this invention is to control the vaporconte'nt of a fluid.

Another object of the inventionis automatically control the supply of moisture to tional to light variations 1mpre.

.uponit, v is subjected to the actionof light passing through a window pane,- or other similarly located transparent medium of a heated room, and the variation in the lightstriking the photo-electric cell caused by the condensation of moisture on the surface of the window pane,is caused'to actuate control a'ppa- 'ratus for controlling the moisture-supply. The outer surface of the window-or other there ore, responsive to the action of the outdoor temperatures, and the inside surface is in contact with and, therefore, subject to the 1o trans arent medium is in contact with and,

According to a feature of the invention,

as long as the humidity of the air in the room is below the condensation point, the photo-electric cell will be subjected to a maximum amount of light through the win-- dow, but as soon as condensation be ins to v take place upon the inner surface-of t e window, the intensity of light directed upon the photo-electric cell begins to decrease. This decrease in light so actuates through the photo-electric cell, control circuits to auto-:-

matically control the amount of moisture added to the air from the. humidifier or other source. disa peared from the surface of the window, the 'ght striln'ng'the photo-electric cell increases and actuates control circuits to increase the amount of -moisture supplied to r v the air.

I According to another feature of the insity of the light striking'the photo-elec ric cell caused bychanges m the intensity of the light without the window-or other conditions other than the formation of the When the condensation has.

05 ention variations in the amount or intenlarly adapted for use in controlling the amount of light in the system, of Fig. 2;

V Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a system for supplying light to the control photo-electric cell of a humidity control system, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a valve mechanism for humidity control.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the window pane 5 has its left side (facing the drawing) exposed to the outside air and its right side exposed to the air within a heated room or other enclosure. The humidifier 6 serves to supply the moisturthrough the nozzle 9 into the room. Within the room the photoelectric cell 10 is exposed to light coming from the outside through the window 5 and is placed in line with the portion of the window on which condensation first appears. Placed without the room is the source of constant illumination, the lamp 11, the filamentrof which is heated by the battery 12.

" The light from the lamp 11 focused by the closure 13, the lens 14 serving to focus the light from the lamp 13 on to the photo-sensitive cathode of the photo-electric cell 10.

The light from the lamp 11 focused by the lens 14 passes through the window pane 5.

The distance between the lens 14'and the photo-sensitive cathode of the photo-electric cell 10 is such that the light rays from the lamp 11 are focused to a small spot on the cathode of the photo-electric cell 10. The photo-electric cell 10 is placedwithin the enclosure 15 in such a way that its cathode is exposed only to light entering from the direction of the window pane 5. The potential variations set up within the photo-electric cell 10 by light variations playing on its photo-cathode, are amplified through the amplifier 16, which also serves to supply polarizing potentials for the electrodes of the cell 10. The amplified currents from the amplifier 16 are fed into the moving coil 17 of the galvanometer 18. The galvanometer coil 17 is pivoted at 19 and has attached to it the resistance arm 20... The outer end of the arm 20 contacts with the resistance 21 throughout the range of movement of the coil 17. The resistance 21 is connected in circuit with the battery 22,1thesolenoid 23,

' and the resistance arm 20,.the amount of the resistance 21 which is connected in the circuit at any given time depending upon the degree of angularity of the coil '17, which in turn depends upon the amplitude of the photo-electric currents amplified through and delivered by the amplifier 16.- The plunger 24 is adapted to slide in and out of the solenoid 23 to a degree proportionalto the amount of current flowing through the solenoidwinding. One end of the solenoid plunger 24 is connected to the crank arm 25 of the valve 8; the crank arm 24 of the valve 8 being also connected to the spring 26.

In operation, since the light from the lamp 11 is concentratedand appears as a very bright spot on the photo cathode of the photo-electric cell 10, the amount of light entering through the window pane 5' from outside, eircept in the concentrated beam of light from the lens 14, is so small in proportion to the intense light from the concentrated beam that any changes in the light entering through the window pane 5 outslde the concentrated beam, have a very small effect on the photo-electric cell, and the sensitivity of the photo-electric cell may be so adjusted by regulation of its polarizing potentialsthat a small change in illumination will not cause a noticeable change in the current flowing through the amplifier 16. Light which ordinarily enters through the window pane would vary accordingto the degree ofcloudiness, etc., but such changes in light do not effect "to any appreciable extent the operation of the system disclosed. So long as the nozzle 9 delivers the correct amount of moisture into the room, no conden-' sation will be formed upon the inner surface of the window pane. Therefore, the lamp 13 gives a light of constant intensity on the photo cathode of the photo-electric cell 10. But as soon as any moisture condenses onthe surface of the window pane 5 near the photoelectric cell, this condensation cuts off a por tion of the light from the lamp 13'and causes a decrease-in the amount and intensity of the light playing upon the photo cathode of the photo-electric cell 10; This decrease in light causes a decrease in the current flowing through the cell 10, this change in current being amplified by the amplifier 16 and fed into the moving coil 17 of the galvanometer 18, where it causes the'galvanometer coil 17 to rotate to the left (facing the drawing) so as to increase the amount of the resistance 21 connected in circuit with the battery 22, the solenoid 23, and the resistance arm 20. This decrease in current through the solenoid 23 weakens the electro-magnetic field of the solenoid so that the spring 16 is enabled to withdraw the plunger 24 from the solenoid 23 and rotate the valve 8 through the crank shaft 25 towards its closed position, as indicated by the dotted lines. This closing of the valve 8 shuts off a portion of the water delivered to the humidifier 6, through the pipe eme, 3

7. The greater the amount of condensation by the battery 29 and is contained within on the inner surface of the-window arts 5, t e enclosure 30; The lens 31 which is the greater the decrease in current t rou h mounted within the enclosure 30 serves to the photo-electric cell10, the amplifier 16, t e concentrate the light from the lam 27 upon Y galvanoin eter coil 17 so that the galvanomthe cathode of the photo-electric ce 1 35. As 7 eter coil 16 moves further to the. left and has previously been explained-in the discusthrough movement of the resistance arm 20 sion of Fig. 1 of the drawing, if the moisture places more of the resistance 21 in the cir supplied to t e m by t mi r 4 cuit connecting the resistance 21, battery 22, throu h the pipe 41 and out ofvthe nozzle 42 1o solenoid 23 and resistance arm 20. The less is su cient to form condensation on the the current flowing through'the' solenoid 23, inn r s rfa of h win w p h the morethe spring.26 will be able to with condensation cuts oil a ortion of the light draw the-plunger 24" and more completely from the lamp 27 whic is 'focused on the close the'val've 8, photo-electric cell 35. This change in light As soon as'the condensed moisture disapstriking the cathode of the photo-electric so pears from the inner surfa e of the indow icell causes a current change in its circuit,

ane 5, the lam 11 is enabled to throw mo e this current change being amplified by the ight upon the photo cathode 01E- the ph t amplifier 43 from which it is passed into the electric cell 10, this causing n i r a e in e rcoil 44 of the galvanometer 45 where it causes so r nt through the photo cell 10, the amplifier the movement of the resistance arm 46 over 16', and the galvanometer oil 17, thi i e the resistance 47, the degree of movement dein current causing the coil 17 to rotate to p g p t change in vlight Striking the the t, (f in i d th h photolectric cell. Increased illumination movement of the resistance arm to decrease r g "t e photo-electric cell causes inthe amount .of resistance 21 connected in the creased dis lacement of the galvanometer t circuit connecting' e istenc 21, b tte 22, coil 44'whic through movement of the resolenoid 23, and resistance arm 20. This deslstance arm 46 decreases the amount of the crease in resistance in the irc it causes a resistance 47 in the circuit connecting the regreater current flowthrough th inding sista'nce 47 ,the battery 48, the solenoid 49 so oi solenoid 23, thus causing the electro-magand the Switch a m This decrease in the 5 netic force developed to pull the plun 24 resistance in the circuit causes 'anincreased into the solenoid 23 against the action of the current flQW through the solenoid 49, this 1nspring 26 o "as to mov th el s t w d crease of current causing a stronger electroits open posfluon, This movement of the magnetic field which, in tlllIi,'- causes the 85 valve 8 permits more moisture to enter the plunger 50 of the solenoid to be drawn fur- 100 ting mo room. It is thus e th t thi arrangement ther into the solenoid against the resistanceprovidesan automatic control of the amount" Of the prmg 1. This m vement of the of moisture admitted to the h at d oo th plunger 50 causes the valve 52. to the crank system closing or opening the al d itarm 53 of which the plunger 50 is connected,

pears or disappears from th in surface ting more moisture from the humidifier of the window pane; through the nozzle 42 into the room. De- Th y t d mt ill t t d in creased illumination ofthe photoelectric 'Figs.2and3of the drawing hew' difi cell 35 causes, through the amphher 43, a

ti f th arrangement Shown b Fi 1, th decreased current through the galvanometer no modification consisting in means for comp co l 44; the movement of the galvanometer sating for changes in the amount of light, co1l44towards its zero position caused thereother than that from the light source made y moves the {(BSlStance arm 46 ng t rea part of the system, which ente s th o m slstance 47 to include more of the reslstance th o h the i d a {I d di 47 in the circuit including the resistance 47, n

T 00 se arates the room, the heated air of which is f rse, a

' conditions, the additional apparatus shown m the batter i F e m Switch 4 Fig 2 d 3 ld t b necessary, b t it arm 46. his increase of resistance causes is conceivable that conditions might be such a h current; resultmge Weaker in some localities that the additional features fi l 111 the le ld, hi Weaker field allowmight. e ib1 be r ui d so th t th e mg the plun er 50 to be withdrawn by the no hereindisclosed and made as 'a part of this p g 51 an to move the'vfllve 52 towards invention. 1 its closed position through movementof the The light source 27 is mounted'outside the crank arm 53. The decrease in illumination room in line with the window pane 28 which reaching the photo-electric cell 35 is caused,

e as previously been described, to moistened, from the outside atmosphere. by the condensation forming on the inner The photo-electric cell-35 is mounted in its surface of the window pane 28.. The increase {enclosure 36 within .the roomin line with in illumination strikm the photo-electric the light passing from the lamp 27 through cell 35 is caused by the 'sappearance of the 66 the window pane 28. The lamp 27 is heated condensation from'the window: pane. I

isture ,to the air as condensation a to move towards its open position, thus'let- Iai iR d s9 astb' meve"thereinththe 1i ht m'tre li etisiie' qy dieu emtfi I 3 i .tc mpens b n a r {a y v Q th m yz CQil 56 ipape 'zs; are iiutdhttticiillf"'colhpeniited for so'ith'at theehly'chalngesifi light striking the phetde'leetpie cell arelt 1fdn fi9 1fQ m 9P e window pane-28 Refel r ipg n w to Fig ithiitfi-thejwin- I I ffihbte-e'lectric V "f; .1 Thjah0t0-1tfi el lffi" prefer ably placed near that" pd'rtibn-pf the window pane-72*on whieh eondensatibn""eppears. The light variations set up in the photoelectric cell 'due' to the condensation of moisture on the-window pane 72, are amplified by the amplifier 82 tooperate control mechanism similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, or to that which will later be described in connection" with Fi .5. y F11 order-that the atmospheric conditions on that portion of the window pane 72 enclosed by the light-proof enclosure 70 may be the same as if that portion of the window plane was not enclosed, the outside air is awn by the fan 78 through the light-proof shutters 80 and is circulated along the surface ofthe window pane and is discharged through the opening 81. The fan 78 is driven by the motor 79.

With this arrangement the light from outside the iwindow of the room is prevented" from reaching the light-sensitive cathode of the photo-electric cell 75, so that any changes in light due to weather conditions, or change in time, do not effect operation of the system, the only light changes effecting the photoelectric cell 75 being those caused as has been previously explained in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 by condensation of moisture upon the surface of the window pane 72.

The control systems described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 operate to close valves -in the, water pipes supplying conditioning water to the humidifiers, the degree of valve closure being proportional to the amount of moisture condensed on the window panes. It may be preferable that instead of regulating the flow of water to a humidifier and the corresponding amount of water admitted into the room as moisture condenses on the window pane, that the system operate on the appearance of moisture on the window pane to completely shut 10E the water supply to the humidifier until the condensation disappears, at which time the water control' 88. Normally the humidifier 97 will be discharging moistened air into the room, the

valve 94 being open to admit water through the water plpe 96 .to the humidifier 97. When moisture appears on the window pane under observation, the .decrease in light reaching the photo-electric cell of the con-. .trol apparatus causes a decrease in current toflow to and from the amplifier '85. This decrease in current through the winding of the relay 86, due to theweakened magnetic flux of. the relay core, permits the spring 91 to draw the armature 87 from against the contact 88, thus 0 ning the electrical circuit including theattery 89 and the winding of the solenoid 90. With 'no current flowing through the winding of the solenoid 90, thesprin 93 closes the valve 94 and with-. drawsthe p unger-92 from the solenoid 90. As soon as the condensation disappears from the window pane, the increase in light reaching the control photo-electric cell causes that increase in current flow through the .amplifier and the winding of the relay 86, thus causing the armature 87 tobeattracted by the relay core and to close the electrical circuit including the battery 89 and the winding of the solenoid 90, so that the magnetic flux set up in 'the core of the solenoid 90 attracts the plunger 92 against the compression of the spring 93 and opens the valve, 94, admitting water through the water pipe .96 into the humidifier 97, so that moistened air will again be discharged into the room through the nozzle 98. v

The 'am lifier 85 shown by Fig. 5 may be the amp-1i er 16 of Fig. 1, the amplifier 43 of Fig. 2, or the amplifier 82 of Fig. 4:,since the control systems to the right of the amplifiers in. all figures of the drawing may be interchanged as desired. In like manner, the. amplifier 82 of Fig. 4 may actuate the control apparatus shown to the ri ht of amplifier 16 of Fig. 1 amplifier 43 of ig. 2, and arm plifier 85 of ig. 5.

It is realized that the release of electrons; from the photo-electric cathode by photo electric action is believed to be accomplished by ultra violet light. It should be under-- stood, therefore, that the light sources 11 of Fig. 1, 27 of Fig. 2, and 71 of Fig. 3, may be of the mercury vapor, carbonaarc, or other tive for photo-electric actlon. The envelopes of the light sources may be of quartz or other suitable material to pass that portion of the spectrum of light rays effective for photoelectric action. Likewise, the focusing lenses andthe window panes or other transparent mediums used with this invention are to be. constructed of such material that light'rays,v effective for photo-electric action may pass through.

While for the purpose of explanation a window of the room has been described as the medium u on which condensation occurs, it is;

may be used in co-operation with a light source and other necessary equipment to operate the control mechanism through variation of light due to condensation on the surto be un erstood that any. suitable/surface face, and the focusing lens itself may be used as this surface.

Also while the control mechanism has been described as adjusting a valve in the conditioning waterpipe, it isobvious that this control mechanism may serve to operate any conthe'equipmentan: .1 a

trol mechanism; whatsoever associated wi th clouding overor frosting of windowjpanes under varying conditions of, atmosphere. I {I wish it to be understood, however, thatthis for illustrative purposes only. inven 'tion has many other applications and can be used under any conditions-where it; is desirable or practicable to regulate the amount or proportion of a gas or'vapor Whichis subject to condensation upon a surface exposed 1 to changes in temperature and I wish it distinctly understood that both, apparatusand method are to be limitedonly as'hereinafter pointed out in the claims. I Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is y i 7 1. The method of controlling the vapor content of a fluid within an enclosure containing a transparent medium exposed on one side to a ifi'erent temperature from that within the enclosure, which comprises actuating vapor control means by the variations in light through said medium caused by condensation of said vapor thereon.

2. The method of controlling the vapor content of a fluid within an enclosure contain ing a transparent medium exposed on one side to a different temperature from that within the enclosure, which comprises passing a light beam through said medium, and actuating vapor control mechanism by the change in intensity of said light beam caused by any condensation of b said vapor upon .said medium. A

- 3. The method of controlling the vapor content of a fluid within an enclosure containing a transparent medium exposed on one side to a difierent temperature from that within the enclosure, which comprises changing light variations through said medium caused by condensation of said vapor thereon into electrical variations, and actuating vapor control mechanism by said electrical variations.

4. The method of controlling the addition of moisture to the air within a room containing a transparent medium exposed on one side to a different temperature from that within the room, which comprises changing light variations throu h said medium caused by condensation of moisture thereon into elec trical variations, and actuating the moisture adding mechanism by said electrical variations.

5. Apparatus for controlling the amount of vapor in a fluid contained within an'enclosure, comprising a vapor source, a medium separating said enclosure from a fluid having a di erenttemp ra ra fimmt atwith n ai lo ule-andmwm tuated byi h ndea, sation of any a offsaidg-vaporgolisaidmedium,a for; controlling".- the .v ,a mo unt pf, v x apor 1 1;v

said source; I

, ppa a u t ri l he l t of vapor in a fluid contained within an enclosure; comprising ,;a vaporvseurce, a trans- I 7 parent medium Separating-,1 said-enclosure. is but one application of my mventlon and 1s from a;fluid -having-a; difi'erent temperature,

from that within said} enclosure, and means actuated by light I variations through said medium caused by condensation of saidvapor from said source.

thereon for controlling the amountiof vapor 17. Apparatus for controlling the amount of vapor in a fluid contained within an enclosure, comprising a vapor source, a transparent medium separating said enclosure from a fluid havinga different temperature from that within said'enclosure, means for changing light variations'through said me 'dium caused by condensation of said vapor thereon into electrical variations, and means for controllingthe amount of vapor from said source by saidelectrical variations.

8. Apparatus for controlling the humidity of air within a room, comprising means for introducing moisture into said air, a transparent medium in said room exposed on one side of the atmosphere, and means actuated by the condensation of moisture on said medium for controlling the addition of said moisture.

9. Apparatus for controlling the humidity of air within a room, comprising means for introducing moisture into said air, a transparent medium in said roomexposed on one side to the atmosphere, and means actuated by variations of light through said medium due to condensation of moisture thereon for controlling said first mentioned means.

10. Apparatus for controlling the humidvariations.

11. Apparatus for controlling the humidity of air within a room, comprising means for introducing moisture into said air, a transparent medium in said room exposed on one side to the atmosphere, 'a light source without said room, light responsive means within said room, and means controlled by said light responsive means through variations in light fromsaid source due to condensation of moisture upon said medium forcontrolling said moisture introducing means,

12. Apparatus for controlling the humid- 

